Private Health staff in Eastern Region to lay down tools over 11-month salary arrears

Health workers at Providence Medical Center, a private health facility at Suhum in the Eastern Region are threatening to lay down tools beginning Monday, April 20, 2020, over eleven (11) months salary arrears.

Among the workers are administrative staff, nurses, midwives, records staff, orderlies and security.

According to the aggrieved Staff, the Medical Director of the facility, Dr. Divine Apaloo has always been hiding behind the indebtedness of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to the facility as an excuse for his inability to pay staff.

However, they claim, NHIA has recently paid four months of the arrears owed the facility but the Director instead of also clearing at least half of their salary arrears, paid for just a month.

Some of the staff told Starr News, their Landlords are evicting them over non-payment of rents whereas others are unable to take care of their families.

“From Administration to Orderly nobody has been paid for the past 11 months. He always uses arrears of NHIA as excuse but now that NHIA has paid four months of the arrears he is still not willing to pay us. At least pay us four months of the arrears but just paid a month. So we want our money we have families to take care ”

“One of the orderlies was recently ejected from his room over non-payment rent. Unfortunately, it rained that day. Similar thing happened to a security man”.

“Now we all know how coronavirus is not sparing health workers globally, so if we risk our lives here and not being paid that is unfair” Another staff complained.

Providence Medical Center popularly called Dr. Apaloo Hospital by residents is arguably one of the biggest private primary health centres in Suhum Municipality.

Out-Patient Attendance has always been high compared to others due to quality healthcare delivery. The facility is deemed to be the best in terms of delivery of gynaecology and maternal healthcare services.

The Medical Center has a branch in Koforidua.

Efforts through phone calls and messages sent to the CEO of the facility Dr.Divine Apaloo for reaction to the allegations and threats to lay down tools by the staff remain unanswered.